Certificate in Applied GIS

The Certificate in Applied GIS is designed to provide students and members of the professional community with Geographic Information Systems skills. At all levels of the program, training focuses on the application of GIS skills in the workplace and in research environments. The certificate is open to undergraduates and graduates interested in developing GIS applications in their fields, those already holding degrees who are interested in developing GIS skills to apply to their own areas of expertise, or professionals interested in adding GIS to their lexicon of skills or retooling for a career change.

The Certificate in Applied GIS consists of three required courses and one elective, totaling a minimum of 14 undergraduate or 12 graduate credit hours. All courses will be taught at USM. Some courses may be transferred from other campuses within the University of Maine system, as appropriate. Contact the Director of USM GIS for details. One course may be transferred from colleges outside the University of Maine System, on a case by case basis and as approved by USM faculty teaching that course.

In cases where students have already completed the listed course and with prior approval, alternate courses may be substituted for both requirements and electives to make up the minimum count of 14 undergraduate or 12 graduate credits. There is a minimum residency requirement of 3 courses or 9 credit hours. Students must complete all courses with a C- or better. Geography-Anthropology majors may use only one course in the certificate toward their major requirements. Majors in other programs should discuss similar restrictions with their advisors.

Required courses:

GEO 305/GEO 505/GEO 605 Remote Sensing

GEO 308/GEO 508/GEO 608 GIS Applications I

GEO 408/GEO 518/GEO 618 GIS Applications II

Electives

Take at least one of the following for a minimum of 14 undergraduate or 12 graduate credit hours:

These must be taken together

COS 160 Structured Problem Solving: Java (3 cr.)

COS 170 Structured Programming Laboratory (1 cr.)

This can be taken as a stand-alone

GEO 340 Digital Mapping

These courses may either be taken alone, or some combination of the two for the total of three credits